Water-cooling unit for electric refrigerators



Dec. 31, 1929. F. R. VOLLMER 1,741,594

WATER COOLING UNIT, FOR Ep EcTRIc REFRIGERATORS Filed June 21, 192'? Attorney 24H Inventor 1 IE VZ/WMI;

Fatientecl Dec Bl; "i929 PATENT, OFFICE FRANK ROSWELL VGLLMER, 0F READING, PENNSYLVANIA ATEE-COOLING ciu'r non Application filed June 21,

This invention relates generally to improvements in electrical refrigerators and aims to provide a highly novel, simple and 1n expensive water cooling unit constructed for disposition around the refrigerating unit ofan electrical refrigerator, and having communication at one end with the house water supply and being equipped at its opposite end with an ordinary faucet, with the obvious end in view of having a supply of cold water ale ways at hand, resulting in a considerable Stl saving in the ice usually produced by the refrigerating mechanism. I y

In carrying out my improved inventlon there is provided a series of interconnected water tubes adapted to be suspended from the top of the refrigerating unit and to engage around the ice making cabinet of the refrigerating unit so that the'cold air from the ice cabinet will pass onto the water tubes for thoroughly chilling the water passing therethrough.

Furthermore the present invention contemplates the provision of. a water cooling unit that may be readily associated with electrical refrigerators without in any manner whatever altering the construction thereof and without requiring the removal of any of the structural elements of the refrigerator.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views: I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of that portion of an electrical refrigerator equipped with the refrigerating unit, the cabinet containing unit being open and being equipped with my improved water cooling unit.

Figure 2 is a view partially-in cross section and partially in elevation of one of the water tubes of the unit for disciosing method whereby ntire unit may be sue-- pended from the 1; r portion of the re frigerating unit of or iefrigeraton Figure, 3 is a side elevation of the water closed as surro Figure 1 .partments.

ELECTRIG REFRIGERATORS 1927. Serial No. 200,383.

through one of the water tubes of the cooling unit. I

Now having particular reference to the drawing, my novel cooling unit consists of two transversely spaced series of vertical water tubes, the tubes of each series being in spaced parallel relation as clearly disclosed in Figures 3 and 4. Each tube of the unit is designated by the reference character 5 and is of predetermined length. These tubes are preferably of circular shape in cross section and are open at their lower ends, said lower ends being internally threaded for receiving in each instance a closure plug 6, having a boss 7 upon its outer side to facilitate the insertion or removal of said plug. Furthermore each tube 5 is provided at its upper end with opposed threaded inlet and discharge openings within which are arranged pipes 8-8 for establishing communication between the various tubes. Arranged longitudinally within each tube 5 and depending from the top wall thereof is a partition 9 the lower end thereof being spaced from the lower end of the tube so that the water may pass from one side of the partition to the other,'said partition obviously dividing the tube into com- The top wall of each tube 5 above its compartment is provided with threaded openings 10 for receiving clean out plugs 111l.-

In actual practice the two series of tubes are arranged vertically upon opposite sides of the ice compartment A of the refrigerating unit B of the refrigerator C. These units are connected to the top structure of the refrigerating units by hangers 12 arranged beneath the connecting pipes between the tube and bolted, anchored or otherwise secured to the bottom wall of the upper structure of said refrigerating unit see Figure 2. However, any other desirable form of means may be provided for suspending the tubes so that they will. be arranged at opposite sides of the ice making unit A.

The rearmost tubes of the series of tubes at opposite sides of the ice making unit A are interconnected by a cross pipe 13, while communicating with. the foremost tube of one series of tubes is water supply pipe 14, the

foremost tube of the opposite series being equipped With a feucet 15. Obviously When the :teucet 15 is opened, the Water Will pass into the upper ends of the various tubes and thence downwardly beneath the partition 9 and thence upwardly to the discharge pipe to the other tube, and in this manner the Water will become thoroughly chilled prior to its discharge from the faucet 15.

lit Will thus be seen that l have provided e highly novel, simple and relatively inert-- pensive Water cooling unit for refrigerators L tric refrigerators ot the ofthe electrical character, even though i have herein shown and described the invention as consisting of certain detailed structural eleinents it is nevertheless to be understood that some changes may be made therein Without eil'ecting the spirit and scope of: the appended claims II claim as new is y it. in a WEDJ'L'OI cooling attachment ior elecrefrigerators of the type including un ice melting cabinet suspended from u Te'llig} QI'fltiOll unit, it plurality of verticul Water tubes arranged at opposite sides of the ice compartment being suspended from the r2 irigeration unit and having communication with each other, and a Water supply pipe new ing communication with the foremost tube at one side of the cnbinet, and a faucet haviup communication With the foremost tube at the opposite side of the cabinet and means therethe entire unit may be sup orted position.

2. lln a Water cooling ittechmeut for electype including on ice making cabinet suspended from a refrigeration unit a circuitous Water conductor having portions one on each side of the cubinet, means for suspending the Water conductor from the refrigeration unit, means for delivering Water into one end of the conductor and means for taking Water from the other end thereof,

in testimony whereof I eilii; my signature.

FRANK RtlSl/VELL VLLMER i l-laying thus described the invention, What 

